Mira should watch her words

Marus chuckled darkly. "So, if I send you more orcs, you promise to kill them? Word of a paladin?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement. Mira knew better than to make promises to a demon, but she was beyond caring at this point.

"Yes, demon," she snarled through gritted teeth. "I swear upon my honor as a paladin, I'll slay any damned orc you send my way!"

That was all the confirmation Marus needed. The moment Mira uttered her oath, her sword materialized at her feet. She bent down and retrieved it, the familiar weight in her hand giving her a small measure of comfort.

Mira took up a battle stance, gripping her sword tightly as she glared at the door. With a defiant ringing of the bell, she braced herself for the onslaught that never came. Instead of orc warriors, two young orclings tumbled into the room. They were no older than ten years old, and their wide eyes were filled with terror.

The orclings scrambled over to the lifeless body of their father—the cave orc Mira had slain earlier—and upon realizing he was dead, they let out a wail of anguish that tore at Mira's heartstrings.

Mira's blood ran cold. She had never spared a thought for the orcish children before, never considered that they might love their kin just as humans do. Now she was faced with the consequences of her actions—two innocent lives shattered by her hand. She enjoyed beating their father to ****, it wasn't merely a paladin's duty, she had relished in it.

"Mira," Marus purred from behind her, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "You made a vow to me, remember? All orcish animals must die by your hand."

Mira's heart pounded in her chest as she stared down at the sobbing orclings. She couldn't bring herself to harm them, not after witnessing their grief firsthand. But she couldn't break her word without consequences either. Marus had won another round.

"Hey, why are you waiting for?" Marus chuckled. "You said that all orcish animals should die. Besides, they'll grow up and quite likely **** some poor girl. Don't you want to defend her, my sweet little paladin?"